Brown elected commander of Civil War group

Sigel Camp #614 ended its first year with officer elections on Dec. 9. Rolla resident C. Scott Brown, a charter member of the group, was elected its new commander. He replaces Camp Commander Randal A. Burd, Jr., who organized the camp, which was chartered in December of 2011.

Comment

By Staff reports

The Rolla Daily News - Rolla, MO

By Staff reports

Posted Dec. 27, 2012 at 11:30 AM

By Staff reports

Posted Dec. 27, 2012 at 11:30 AM

Sigel Camp #614 ended its first year with officer elections on Dec. 9.

Rolla resident C. Scott Brown, a charter member of the group, was elected its new commander. He replaces Camp Commander Randal A. Burd, Jr., who organized the camp, which was chartered in December of 2011.

Sigel Camp #614, Department of Missouri, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, couldn’t have had a better first year. The camp, chartered in December 2011, and active from the start, was honored this past August with the national Joseph S. Rippey Award as the “Most Outstanding New Camp in the 2011-2012 Administrative Year.”

This award was conferred by the National Organization’s Commander-in-Chief Donald Palmer at the 2012 National Encampment in Los Angeles, California.

This patriotic lineage and service organization has worked hard this year to earn and to build on this achievement. Randal A. Burd, Jr. was elected Secretary of the Department of Missouri (which includes Arkansas) this past summer. Sigel Camp #614 co-sponsored a Sesquicentennial Event in Newburg this summer, held a fundraiser with Jimmie John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop in Rolla, and subsequently worked at several events in the region to educate the public about the organization and to honor the veterans of the Civil War who fought to preserve the Union.

Events in which the camp participated include Newburg Day, the annual Patriot Day Rally in Lions Club Park in Rolla, a Sesquicentennial Event of the Felix St. James Camp #326 in St. Genevieve, Franklin County Day at Meramec Caverns in Stanton, and Old Iron Works Days at Maramec Springs.

The group educates the public at these events by setting up a table display of artifacts, replicas, and literature, and answering the questions of curious attendees. Brown brings authentic food such as hardtack, ginger cookies, pickled eggs and pickled bologna for brave students of history to sample. Camp members often dress in period uniform or civilian clothing, and include family members, such as Brown’s wife, Jenee, who also dress the part.

At times, there may be weapon demonstrations or skits based on local historical events, such as in St. Genevieve on Sept. 29, when Commander Burd participated in a historical skit as one of several uniformed federal soldiers of the 78th Enrolled Missouri Militia.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War are always seeking descendants of Union veterans to join their ranks. Sigel Camp’s next meeting is Jan. 13, 2013, 3 p.m., at Columbia College in Rolla. For more information or to get involved, attend the next meeting or email PCC Randal A. Burd Jr. at raburdjr@gmail.com.